RED Xenomorph – Notes On David Fincher’s Customised Camera

David Fincher’s New Camera – A Custom RED Xenomorph – Used for Netflix’s Mindhunter

RED Xenomorph

The Red Digital Cinema Camera Company, the business that manufactures digital cinematography and photography cameras and accessories, designed a beautiful piece of machinery for acclaimed Hollywood director David Fincher; and they called it the RED Xenomorph (after the frightful extraterrestrial, endoparasitoid species from Alien franchise).

The Xenomorph has it all – from wireless monitoring to a motion lens motor control – it’s as beautiful as it is functional. The specs also feature a 6K sensor, and the camera is among the best of any that RED has created to date.

Here’s what Matt Mulcahey from The Fincher Analyst has to say on the matter:

Fincher has long hated all the gak required to make a digital cinema camera functional: a wireless transmitter to get signal to video village, the add-ons to provide wireless iris and focus control, the assistant camera’s onboard monitor hanging off the side — all the things that turn a small, lightweight camera body into a labyrinth of cables and breakout boxes.

Red Digital Cinema responded by making Fincher his own set of custom Weapon Red Dragons for use on the new Netflix series Mindhunter — each with the features listed above built into an ergonomically friendly camera christened the Xenomorph. Put a lens on the front and a battery on the back and the Xenomorph is ready to rock and roll.

David Fincher’s Custom RED Xenomorph Camera Specifications (as per RedUser Forum):

Specifications:

• RED Weapon Dragon 6K Sensor Technology
• Extended WiFi/Foolcontrol antenna array
• Zaxcom wireless audio and timecode
• Xenomorph-inspired brain design
• RT Motion Lens Motor Control
• Anton Bauer Gold Mount
• Paralinx wireless video
• Integrated DSMC2
• Shoulder Mount
• 0″ LCD Touch

We shot 6K 2:1 with a 5K centre extraction. This method gave us tremendous freedom in post for stabilization and re-framing when necessary. The editors work with a lot of split screens, so having the extra room to reframe and adjust in the cut is very helpful in that process. The aspect ratio for the release is 2.2:1.
Erik Messerschmidt, Cinematographer – Mindhunter

Unfortunately for camera buffs, The RED Xenomorph is not, and will not be commercially available. According to reports, it was solely developed for use on Fincher’s new Netflix series, Mindhunter.

If you haven’t seen Mindhunter yet, stop reading this and go witness Fincher’s magic unfold on Netflix, thanks to the RED Xenomorph!

Some More RED Xenomorph Camera Pictures: